Method and device for controlling an iron

ABSTRACT

A control method of an iron and its device, wherein the method comprises the steps of: (1) keeping the output temperature of the iron a temperature T 1  suitable for ironing; (2) determining whether the iron is in a working state; if yes, step (1) is carried out; if no, step (3) is carried out; (3) determining whether the time of the iron&#39;s non-working state exceeds a predetermined time S 1;  if yes, step (4) is carried out; if no, step (1) is carried out; (4), the output temperature of the iron is kept at a temperature T 2  that is lower than T 1.  The invention sets a control mode of reducing electricity consumption of the iron according to users&#39; use habit. If only the iron isn&#39;t used for a relatively long time such as 5 minutes, the output temperature of the iron will be controlled to fall from a higher constant temperature, such as 200° C., to a lower constant temperature, such as 120° C. The method of the present invention not only reduces unnecessary energy consumption, but also enables the iron to resume to its set higher temperature quickly when users want to use it again.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a control method of the iron and its device,more particularly to a control method of saving electricity and safetyof the iron and the device thereof.

RELATED ART

Early mechanical electric iron has work principle as follows: after theoutput temperature of the electric iron is set at some temperature suchas 200° C., whether the iron is used, if only the power isn't shut off,the electric heating tray of the iron will always keep at set point suchas 200° C., which will waste electric energy, reduce useful life, andbring potential safety hazard when the electric iron is not used.

Aiming at above disadvantages, people advance an electronic-controlledelectric iron, which has work principle as follows. The iron can sensewhether itself is being used by a moving sense switch, if no, theelectric heating tray of the iron will not keep at set using temperaturesuch as 200° C. until the power of the iron goes off automatically(generally keeping flat 30 seconds later or keeping upright 15 secondslater). Experiment proves: the bigger difference in temperature betweenthe temperature of the object in open environment and the environmentaltemperature, the more quickly the object dissipates heat.Correspondingly the higher temperature that an object keeps at in openenvironment, the more energy will be consumed in unit time. By theexperiment, the temperature that the electric iron keeps at for sometime after the iron isn't used is set using temperature such as 200° C.,which is high and will cost a large quantity of electric energy.

Both the iron of electric heating tray and the iron of steam generatorhave above-mentioned disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a work control method of the iron, whichovercomes the shortcoming of wasting much electric energy of known ironsin related art.

The present invention adopts technical solution one to overcome theshortcoming as follows.

A work control method of the iron, comprising steps as follows:

step (1), normal working step, for making the output temperature of theiron keep at a higher temperature T1 fit for working;

step (2), a first judging step, for judging whether the iron is working;if yes, step (1) is carried out; if no, step (3) is carried out;

step (3), a second judging step, for judging whether the time that theiron keeps at nonuse state exceeds scheduled time S1; if yes, step (4)is carried out; if no, step (1) is carried out;

step (4), constant temperature step, for making the output temperatureof the iron keep at a lower temperature T2 that is lower than T1.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the method alsocomprises following steps:

step five, a third judging step, for judging whether the nonuse state ofthe iron is changed; if the state is changed to working state, carryingout state one; if no, carrying out step six;

step six, a fourth judging step, for judging whether the time that theiron keeps at nonuse state reaches the time S2 of automatic power off;if yes, carrying out step seven; if no, step (4) is carried out;

step seven, step of automatic power off, for shutting off the powerautomatically.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the method alsocomprises following step:

step eight, a fifth judging step, for judging whether the nonuse stateof the iron is changed; if the state is changed to working state,carrying out state one; if no, carrying out step seven;

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the scheduled timeS1 in the second judging step of step (3) is 2-8 minutes.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, T2 in the step ofconstant temperature of step (4) is 80-120° C.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in the constanttemperature step of step (4), the thermostat of higher temperature forcontrolling the electric heater is changed to the thermostat of lowertemperature by controlling the switch.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in the constanttemperature step of step (4), the lower temperature T2 is kept bycontrolling circular on-off of the switch of the electric heater.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in the constanttemperature step of step (4), the thermostat of higher temperature forcontrolling the steam generator is changed to the thermostat of lowertemperature by controlling the switch.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in the constanttemperature step of step (4), the lower temperature T2 is kept bycontrolling circular on-off of the switch of the steam generator.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in the firstjudging step of step (2), whether the iron is working is judged by amoving sense switch of the iron.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in constanttemperature step of step (4), firstly a temperature sensor senses thetemperature of the electric heating tray and transmits the temperaturesignal to a control board, then the control board compares the settemperature with the sensed temperature and controls on/off of theelectric heater according to the contrastive result.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in constanttemperature step of step (4), firstly a temperature sensor senses thetemperature of the steam generator and transmits the temperature signalto a control board, then the control board compares the set temperaturewith the sensed temperature and controls on/off of the electric heateraccording to the contrastive result.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the nonuse stateof the iron comprises immobile state of the iron.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the nonuse stateof the iron comprises the state that the steam generator of the irondoesn't eject steam.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the iron is boileriron; the output temperatures of the iron comprise the temperature ofthe electric heating tray of the iron, the temperature of the steamgenerator of the iron or both of them.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the iron is theiron of electric heating tray; the output temperatures of the ironcomprise the temperature of the electric heating tray of the iron, thetemperature of the steam generating room of the iron or both of them.

The present invention adopts technical solution two to overcome theshortcoming as follows.

A control device of the iron at least comprises a first judging moduleand a second judging module;

The first judging module, for judging whether the iron is working; ifyes, making the output temperature of the iron keep at a highertemperature T1 fit for working; if no, carrying out the second judgingmodule;

The second judging module, for judging whether the time that the ironkeeps at nonuse state exceeds scheduled time S1; if yes, making theoutput temperature of the iron keep at a lower temperature T2 that islower than T1; if no, making the output temperature of the iron keep atthe higher temperature T1 fit for working.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the device alsocomprises a third judging module and a fourth judging module;

the third judging module, for judging whether the nonuse state of theiron is changed; if the state is changed to working state, making theoutput temperature of the iron keep at the higher temperature T1 fit forworking; if no, carrying out the fourth judging module;

the fourth judging module, for judging whether the time that the ironkeeps at nonuse state reaches the time S2 of automatic power off; ifyes, shutting off the power automatically; if no, making the outputtemperature of the iron keep at the lower temperature T2.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the device alsocomprises a five judging module;

the five judging module, for judging whether the nonuse state of theiron is changed; if the state is changed to working state, making theoutput temperature of the iron keep at the lower temperature T2; if no,keeping the state of power off.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the nonuse stateof the iron comprises immobile state of the iron.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the nonuse stateof the iron comprises the state that the steam generator of the irondoesn't eject steam.

The invention has advantages as follows. The invention advances acontrol method of saving electricity of the iron according to usingcustoms of users. If only the iron isn't used for a longer time such as5 minutes, the output temperature of the iron will be controlled to fallto a lower constant temperature such as 120° C. from a higher constanttemperature such as 200° C., which reduces unnecessary consumed energyand can make the iron resume to its set higher temperature quickly whenusers want to use it again.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be further described according to thedrawings and embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a flow diagram of the control method of a preferredembodiment.

FIG. 2 is a controlling circuit diagram of a preferred embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a controlling circuit diagram of another preferred embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a controlling circuit diagram of another preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, it is a flow diagram of the control method of apreferred embodiment.

A control method of the iron comprises steps as follows.

Step zero, electrifying state, for electrifying the iron and making theiron start its working state.

Step (1), normal working step, for making the output temperature of theiron keep at a higher temperature T1 fit for working; for example, T1can be 200° C. In the embodiment, if the iron is the iron of electricheating tray, the output temperatures of the iron can be the temperatureof the electric heating tray of the iron, the temperature of the steamgenerating room of the iron or both of them; if the iron is boiler iron,the output temperatures of the iron can be the temperature of theelectric heating tray of the iron, the temperature of the steamgenerator of the iron or both of them.

Step (2), a first judging step, for judging whether the iron is working;if yes, step (1) is carried out; if no, step (3) is carried out; in theembodiment, whether the iron is working is judged by a moving senseswitch of the iron, and the iron comprises a parallel immobile state, anupright immobile state and an using state; the judging method isexisting art and will not be described here.

Step (3), a second judging step, for judging whether the time that theiron keeps at nonuse state exceeds scheduled time S1; if yes, step (4)is carried out; if no, step (1) is carried out; in the embodiment, thenonuse state of the iron comprises the immobile state of the iron andthe state that the steam generator of the iron doesn't eject steam; thescheduled time S1 can be 2-8 minutes according to using customs ofusers, had better 5 minutes.

Step (4), constant temperature step, for making the output temperatureof the iron keep at a lower temperature T2 such as 100° C. according tothe function of saving energy and the function of reverting to T1quickly.

Step five, a third judging step, for judging whether the nonuse state ofthe iron is changed; if the state is changed to working state, carryingout state one; if no, carrying out step six; step five can refer to step(2).

Step six, a fourth judging step, for judging whether the time that theiron keeps at nonuse state reaches the time S2 of automatic power off;if yes, carrying out step seven; if no, step (4) is carried out.

Step seven, step of automatic power off, for shutting off the powerautomatically.

Step eight, a fifth judging step, for judging whether the nonuse stateof the iron is changed; if the state is changed to working state,carrying out state one; if no, carrying out step seven.

Above control method has a precondition that the iron has beenelectrified and has not been shut off by the power or the switch,actually the acting time of the control method is between the iron iselectrified and the iron is shut off by the power or the switch.

A control device of the iron comprises a first judging module, a secondjudging module, a third judging module, a fourth judging module and afifth judging module; the first judging module, for judging whether theiron is working; if yes, making the output temperature of the iron keepat a higher temperature T1 fit for working; if no, carrying out thesecond judging module; the second judging module, for judging whetherthe time that the iron keeps at nonuse state exceeds scheduled time S1;if yes, making the output temperature of the iron keep at a lowertemperature T2 that is lower than T1; if no, making the outputtemperature of the iron keep at the higher temperature T1 fit forworking; the third judging module, for judging whether the nonuse stateof the iron is changed; if the state is changed to working state, makingthe output temperature of the iron keep at the higher temperature T1 fitfor working; if no, carrying out the fourth judging module; the fourthjudging module, for judging whether the time that the iron keeps atnonuse state reaches the time S2 of automatic power off; if yes,shutting off the power automatically; if no, making the outputtemperature of the iron keep at the lower temperature T2; the fivejudging module, for judging whether the nonuse state of the iron ischanged; if the state is changed to working state, making the outputtemperature of the iron keep at the lower temperature T2; if no, keepingthe state of power off. In the embodiment, the nonuse state of the ironcomprises immobile state of the iron and the state that the steamgenerator of the iron doesn't eject steam.

In the embodiment the control device is a control board, which comprisesa singlechip and a moving sense switch. The first judging module, thesecond judging module, the third judging module, the fourth judgingmodule and the fifth judging module are wrote into the singlechip.

In above constant temperature step, the thermostat of higher temperaturefor controlling the electric heater is changed to the thermostat oflower temperature by controlling the switch, for making the outputtemperature of the iron keep at the lower temperature T2. FIG. 2 is thecontrolling circuit diagram. The control device comprises an electriccontrol board 10, a fuse 20, a thermostat 31 of higher temperature, athermostat 32 of lower temperature and an electric heater 40, and thereis single-pole double-throw switch 11 on the electric control board 10.In normal using, the control board 10 controls the switch 11 to startthe adjustable thermostat 31 of higher temperature to act forcontrolling the heating of the electric heater 40; when the set timecontrolled by the control method arrives, the control board 10 controlsthe switch 11 to make the thermostat 32 of lower temperature act formaking the electric heater 40 keep at a lower temperature.

In another embodiment, in above constant temperature step, the lowertemperature T2 is kept by controlling circular on-off of the switch ofthe electric heater. FIG. 3 is the controlling circuit diagram. Thecontrol device comprises an electric controlling board 10, a fuse 20, athermostat 30 and an electric heater 40. There is a unipath upratedswitch 11 that can drive and shut off the electric heater, which can berelay, Triac or SCR. When the iron is in normal heating state, thecontrol board 10 controls the switch 11 to make it be closed all along;the on/off of the electric heater 40 is absolutely controlled by thethermostat 30 abutting against the surface of the heater 40. When thetime that the iron is kept in nonuse state or immobile state exceeds settime, the iron will come into the state of saving energy, and thecontrol board 10 will make the switch 11 be off. According to theproportion of the constant temperature and the output time of the powerin the below table, the relay can carry through switch controlling,Triac and SCR can carry through tangential angle controlling (Triac andSCR can conduct tangential angle controlling ), for making the iron keepat a lower constant temperature. The table takes the iron doing theexperiment of dry heating as an example, which has an electric heatingtray of 1200 W, the temperature difference of 30° C. between the highertemperature and the lower temperature, an environment temperature of 20°C.

average constant 100° C. 150° C. 200° C. temperature the time of poweroutput in 10 seconds 10 seconds 11 seconds a period the time of no poweroutput 4 minutes 2 minutes 1 minutes and in a period and 10 and 10 30seconds seconds seconds the time percentage of 4% 7% 11% power output ina period

According to the normal constant temperature 200° C. and the constanttemperature 100° C. of saving energy from above table, taking a longview and on the regular service conditions, about 60% electric energycan be saved.

In another embodiment, in above constant temperature step, the lowertemperature T2 is kept by controlling power on-off of the switch of theelectric heater. FIG. 4 is the controlling circuit diagram. The devicecomprises a control board 10, a fuse 20, a temperature sensor 50 and anelectric heater 40. The control device comprises an electric controllingboard 10, a fuse 20, a thermostat 30 and an electric heater 40. There isa unipath uprated switch 11 that can drive and shut off the electricheater, which can be relay, Triac or SCR. The temperature sensor 50 suchas NTC abuts against the electric heating tray of the iron; the NTCsenses the temperature of the electric heating tray and transmits thetemperature signal to the singlechip of the control board. In normalworking, set temperature in the singlechip is 200° C., and in constanttemperature step set temperature in the singlechip is changed to 120° C.The singlechip of the control board compares the set temperature withthe sensed temperature and controls the power on/off of the electricheater according to the compared result to make the temperature of theelectric heating tray keep at the set value. If the temperature is lowerthan some set value, the electric heater will heat; if the temperatureis higher than some set value, the electric heater will stop heating,which can control the temperature of the electric heating tray to makeit keep at set temperature interval.

The control method of the invention and its device is not only fit forcommon handheld iron, but also fit for saving energy of the steamgenerator of the boiler iron. The condition that judges whether the modeof saving energy is started can be that the iron doesn't move in alonger time or that users don't use the function of ejecting steam in alonger time. Wherein, the same is with the steam generator of the boileriron, namely once the iron is electrified, the steam generator will becontrolled to keep at a higher temperature fit for working such as 150°C. controlled by the thermostat and the pressure switch.

The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiment of the inventionhas been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. Itis not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to theprecise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possiblein light of the above teaching. All changes that come within the meaningand range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within theirscope.

1. A method for controlling an iron comprising: (1) keeping the outputtemperature of the iron at temperature T1 suitable for ironing; (2)determining whether the iron is in a working state or in a non-workingstate; if the iron is in a working state, carrying out step (1); if theiron is in a non-working state, carrying out step (3); (3) determiningwhether the time of the iron's non-working state exceeds a predeterminedtime S1; if yes, carrying out step (4); if no, carrying out step (1);and (4) maintaining the output temperature of the iron at apredetermined temperature T2 that is lower than T1.
 2. The methodaccording to claim 1, further comprising: (5) determining whether thenon-working use of the iron is changed; if the state is changed toworking state, carrying out state (1); if no, carrying out step (6); (6)determining whether the time of the iron's non-working state reaches asecond predetermined time S2 for automatic power off; if yes, carryingout step (7); if no, carrying out step (4) out; and (7) shutting off thepower automatically.
 3. The method according to claim 2, furthercomprising: (8) determining whether the non-working state of the iron ischanged to the working state; if yes, carrying out step (1); if no,carrying out step (7).
 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein thepredetermined time S1 in step (3) is about 2-8 minutes.
 5. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the predetermined temperature T2 in step(4) is about 80-120° C.
 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein theiron is heated with an electric heater under the control of a firstthermostat for a higher temperature and second thermostat for a lowertemperature, and wherein in step (4), the control of the electric heateris changed to the second thermostat from the first thermostat bycontrolling a switch.
 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein thetemperature T2 is maintained by controlling a circular on-off of theswitch on the electric heater.
 8. The method according to claim 1,wherein the iron comprises a steam generator heater under the control ofa first thermostat for a higher temperature and second thermostat for alower temperature, and wherein in step (4), the control of the steamgenerator is changed to the second thermostat from the first thermostatby controlling a switch.
 9. The method according to claim 8, wherein instep (4), the lower temperature T2 is maintained by controlling acircular on-off of the switch of the steam generator.
 10. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein in step (2), whether the iron is workingis determined by a movement sensing switch of the iron.
 11. The methodaccording to claim 6, wherein in step (4), firstly a temperature sensorsenses the temperature of a electric heating tray and transmits thetemperature signal to a control circuit, then the control circuitcompares the set temperature with the sensed temperature, and thencontrols on/off of the electric heater according to the comparisonresult.
 12. The method according to claim 8, wherein in step (4),firstly a temperature sensor senses the temperature of the steamgenerator and transmits the temperature signal to a control circuit,then the control circuit compares the set temperature with the sensedtemperature and then controls on/off of the electric heater according tothe comparison result.
 13. The method according to claim 1, wherein thenon-working state of the iron comprises a stationary state, or a statewhere a steam generator thereof is not being used for ejecting steam.14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the iron is boiler iron;and the output temperature of the iron is the temperature of an electricheating tray of the iron, or the temperature of the steam generator ofthe iron or both of them.
 15. The method according to claim 1, whereinthe iron is of an electric heating tray type; and the output temperatureof the iron is the temperature of the iron's electric heating tray, orthe temperature of the iron's steam generating room, or both.
 16. Acontrol device of an iron, which comprises a first determining moduleand a second determining module; wherein the first determining moduledetermines whether the iron is in a working-working state, and thesecond determining module determines whether the iron is in anon-working state; and wherein if the iron is in a working state, anoutput temperature of the iron is kept at a temperature T1 fit forworking; and if the iron is in a non-working state, whether the time ofthe non-working state is determined and if the non-working state exceedsa predetermined time S1; output temperature of the iron is kept at atemperature T2 that is lower than T1, and if the non-working state doesnot exceed S1, the output temperature of the iron is kept at temperatureT1.
 17. The device according to claim 16, which further comprises athird determining module and a fourth determining module; wherein thethird determining module determines whether the non-working state of theiron is changed to the working state, and if yes, the output temperatureof the iron is kept at the temperature T1; if no, the fourth determiningmodule determines whether the time of the iron is in a non-working statereaches a predetermined time S2 for automatic power off, and if the timeof the iron is in a non-working state reaches a predetermined time S2,the power is shut off automatically; if the time of the iron is in anon-working state has not reached S2, the output temperature of the ironis kept at temperature T2.
 18. The control device according to claim 17,which comprises a fifth determining module which determines whether thenon-working state of the iron is changed to the working state, and ifyes, the output temperature of the iron is kept at the lower temperatureT2, if no, the power-off state is kept.
 19. The control device accordingto claim 16, wherein the nonuse state of the iron is a stationary state,or a state where the steam generator thereof is not used for ejectingsteam.